There was jubilation and excitement at Eke Agbani Market as the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Council, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, formally handed over a newly constructed ultra-modern abattoir to the Eke Agbani Market Butchers Association, marking another milestone in his administration’s aggressive infrastructure drive.
The brief but symbolic ceremony, held at the slaughterhouse complex near Eke Agbani Market, drew applause from butchers, traders, and community leaders who described the project as long overdue and transformational.
Handing over the facility to the Chairman of the Eke Agbani Butchers Association, Chief Ikechukwu Ogbodo, the council boss declared that the abattoir is one of its kind in the state and comparable to any standard facility across the country.
Hon. Ogbodo explained that the decision to construct a modern abattoir was informed by the deplorable, unhygienic, and embarrassing condition of the former slaughterhouse, which had become an eyesore despite being a place where edible products are processed.
“We cannot allow our people to operate in an environment that compromises hygiene and dignity. This abattoir is not just about infrastructure; it is about public health, safety, and respect for our hardworking butchers and traders,” he stated.
The facility boasts over forty customized butcher tables finished with marble tiles, a functional cold room, office spaces, toilet facilities, and solar lighting to ensure proper illumination at night. It is also equipped with a solar-powered borehole and overhead tank to guarantee steady water supply, addressing long-standing sanitation challenges in the market.
The chairman charged the association to maintain high standards of cleanliness, emphasizing that the sustainability of the project depends on collective responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of the butchers, Chief Ikechukwu Ogbodo expressed profound gratitude, describing the project as “a cry heard by God.” He revealed that previous administrations had failed to deliver on similar promises despite repeated appeals.
“This is unprecedented. We asked before but it did not happen. Today, our chairman has not only listened but acted. We promise to keep this facility clean and protect it,” he said.
The handover is widely seen as the fulfillment of a promise made by Hon. Ogbodo shortly after assuming office. Just weeks into his administration, he had initiated the abattoir project following an unscheduled inspection of the old facility, where he condemned its unsanitary condition and vowed immediate intervention.
That inspection tour also included the construction of modern convenience blocks with male and female sections, installation of solar-powered boreholes for both the market and abattoir, and decisive action to end open defecation in the market environment.
Drawing inspiration from the bold infrastructural vision of the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Hon. Ogbodo has consistently maintained that the ongoing transformation in Enugu State must be replicated at the grassroots level. He has openly acknowledged that the governor’s innovative and aggressive development template motivates his administration’s pace and style.
“The infrastructure revolution underway in Enugu State is contagious. It challenges us at the local government level to do more and to deliver real impact to our people,” Ogbodo had earlier stated during one of his project inspections.
Beyond the abattoir, his administration has embarked on multiple landmark projects, including the ongoing construction of a motor park at Ozalla Four Corners, installation of culverts for improved access, and other market and sanitation upgrades. He has repeatedly affirmed that Nkanu West must not be left behind in the state’s transformation agenda.
The abattoir project, therefore, stands not only as a facility for meat processing but as a symbol of responsive governance, one that prioritizes public health, environmental cleanliness, and economic empowerment.
With cheers, prayers, and renewed optimism from the butchers and traders, the handover ceremony reinforced a growing sentiment across Nkanu West: that under Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo’s leadership, the council is steadily mirroring the state’s innovation-driven governance model and delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
_FOUNTAINCARE MEDIA_
